My life

Over the last few weeks I have have an e mail conversation with a gal that takes me back to the dark days of my life. Days when I could not get out of bed and I thought that life just sucked. Then I was watching Oprah and she was talking about a gratitude journal, so I started one. Every night I would write three thing that I was grateful for. Years later I found that journal and as I flipped through it I found a day where all I could write was "the day is over". That seems like a life time ago.

On one of Rusty's deployments, I was feeling sad for myself. At that time I was friends with one of the Chaplin's on base. There in his office was a poster of a flower growing up. The flower was surrounded my cement and the caption said "bloom where you are planted." It was suggested to me that I read some books by John Maxwell. So I did, and so started my growth into a new person.

Yesterday, on facebook, I said that I was going to the beach to fly kites. A dear friend gave me the highest compliment and called me a hippy and said she was jealous. I take that as the highest compliment ever.

Yes, I am a hippy, and yes I love life. I often think back to that poster. "bloom where you are planted" O.K. so we are broke, but we do live in California, and the beach is free, so why not go play in the ocean, fly kites and just enjoy it.

But, my challenge to everyone in this world including my own children, is to live life to the fullest. Try new and exciting things. Go sit on the grass and listen to a jazz concert, pick up a local paper and see what is going on in your own community, and get involved. I have learned that life is about living and not waiting.

My life is also full of contrast. There are times when I do just pack up the children and go. Then there are times when I am just itching to get out of the house. There are times that I do go rock climbing and scare myself, then there are days when I sit and create works of art, by sewing a quilt.

My life is so not perfect and I do not hide that fact. We do have savings but not that much. Our bills are paid, and we have food, but we really have to save for the extras. That's o.k. being poor does not mean that we have to sit in the house and feel sorry for ourselves. It means that we just find cheap thing to do.

My children are learning this lesson as well. I am so glad that I raised them they way did.... broke. My children appreciate everything, and they know they have to work for what they want. I often take my children on my get up and go moments and they are just shocked at some of the places we end up. Chris is really starting to get this. He is now jumping in and joining us and he is longer saying oh poor me. To me that showes that Chris is growing and that he is learning while you may need money to get by, it does not make you happy. Happiness is found in the little moments of life.

I finally talked to Nikki yesterday and she had a great trip! Nikki did struggle with Vegas for a few day's but then she found her groove and is loving it. I have not heard all the details of her trip, but I know that she wants to go back to Vegas several more times this year.

My friend, Tim, is just so amazed at Nikki and he said that I did a great job raising her. Well thank you Tim. Tim said she is a whirl wind and that he is having a hard time keeping up with her. Tim also said that he had fun with her, since he has no children this has been an eye opener for him.

This was also sent in motion long before we ever knew it. It was just back in February that I got back in touch with Tim. Tim lives in Vegas and Nikki ended up in Vegas. Tim's house is only five blocks from the church where Nikki was working.

Today I am going to rally the troops. They have a house to clean. The boys want to go fly kites again, and One of my girlfriends and her little girl are going with us. I know that I wont always life near the ocean, so I am going to take every opportunity to go play on it while I can.

Life is good